Continence Health Interest Group launched in the European Parliament

The purpose of the group is to support and empower people affected by continence health problems across the EU; women, children, men, the elderly, people coping with other health conditions and their carers. The Interest Group promotes a society where continence health problems can be openly talked about and where people can have the right access to preventative measures and care when needed. 

As the socio-economic report found, the estimated economic burden of urinary incontinence was calculated as nearly 70 billion euros in 2023, a staggering figure, which is set to rise by 25% in 2030 if no action is taken. Continence health problems impact many areas of society: gender inequalities, employment, financial systems, the environment, health systems, demography and quality of life. By establishing an MEP Interest Group with representatives of different parliamentary committees and political groups, we are demonstrating that continence health is an important priority, which should be implemented using a cross-cutting approach in key EU initiatives in order to ensure a competitive and resilient Europe. These include: the Gender Equality Strategy and the EU Roadmap for Women’s Rights, the European Care Strategy, Roadmap on Mental Health, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, EU initiatives on NCDs and prevention and future EU funding for health research and innovation in the new multi-annual financial framework.

The group is hosted by MEP Maria Walsh (EPP, Ireland), who said “The Urge to Act campaign has highlighted the significant burden incontinence places not only on patients and carers, but also on the economy and the environment. Without the necessary attention and action, incontinence risks becoming one of Europe’s leading health challenges, affecting individuals, carers and national healthcare systems alike”. MEP Walsh has been joined by 11 other MEPs: Sirpa Pietikainen (Finland, EPP), Maria Guzenina (Finland, S&D), Vytenis Andriukaitis (Lithuania, S&D), Romana Jerkovic (Croatia, S&D), Tomislav Sokol (Croatia, EPP), Ondrej Dostal (Czechia, NI), Andras Kulja (Hungary, EPP), Oliver Schenk (Germany, EPP), Aurelijus Veryga (Lithuania, ECR), Alessandra Moretti (Italy, S&D), Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (Ireland, Renew). 

The Urge to Act campaign, launched in November 2023 with the support of 26 organisations listed below, is the broader policy campaign supporting the Interest Group. The campaign has three main objectives:

1. Raising awareness: The campaign aims at making policymakers aware of the immense burden that incontinence places on patients and their carers, but also on society, the economy and the environment.
2. Instilling the need for action: We want policymakers to understand that if continence health will not receive the attention it deserves and requires, incontinence will become one of the leading health problems in Europe in the years to come, impacting patients, their carers, as well as our national healthcare systems.
3. Establishing an understanding of actions required: We want policymakers at the European and national levels to comprehend what is needed in order to successfully address the incontinence challenge Europe is facing, so they can take effective action. 

Find more information in the Urge to Act campaign website and the MEP Interest Group on Continence Health website. 

Campaign members: 

1. European Association of Urology (EAU)
2. World Federation of Incontinence and Pelvic Problems (WFIPP)
3. International Continence Society (ICS)
4. Sociedad Iberoamericana de Neurourología y Uroginecología (SINUG)
5. PadProject
6. International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)
7. European Association of Urology Nurses (EAUN)
8. European Institute of Women’s Health (EIWH)
9. European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS)
10. European Association Working for Carers (EuroCarers)
11. Orchid- Fighting Male Cancer
12. European Reference Network for rare or low prevalence complex diseases- Urogenital Diseases (ERN eUrogen)
13. International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC)
14. Cancer Patients Europe (CPE)
15. World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition (WBCPC)
16. EuropaUomo
17. ECHAlliance
18. European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO)
19. United European Gastroenterology (UEG)
20. Alzheimer Europe
21. European Cancer Organisation (ECO)
22. International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS)
23. International Neuro-Urological Society (INUS)
24. European Specialist Nurses Organisation (ESNO)
25. Global Alliance on Men’s Health (GAMH)
26. ALLIAX
27. Wings for Life Foundation